THE SKIN WE'RE IN:
Many of us don't realize that our skin is the largest organ in the body with a multitude of life-sustaining duties, including regulating body temperature. It is our first line of defense and as such, easily damaged externally by excessive sunlight, environmen&tf pollution and toxins and dry climates - and internally by cigarette smoke, nutritionally poor diets, and unbalanced lifestyles marked by excess alcohol consumption, sleep deprivation and stress. These destructive factors are our skin's greatest enemy, not the natural aging process. Fortunately we do have control over them.
According to the American Academy of Dermatology (ADD), over the past decade we have become well aware that sun exposure is not only the leading cause of premature aging, but regrettably can actually harm us. In the U.S., over half of all new cancers diagnosed each year are skin cancers, which equates to 1 million individuals per year. Practically speaking, none of us can lead long and interesting lives and avoid exposure to sunlight. So the ADD and medical skincare specialists agree that the most practical compromise is to faithfully apply sunscreens year-round, even on cloudy days, regardless of our home climate or skin color. In the last few years, they have also recommended that sunscreens contain antioxidants.
How does sunlight damage skin?
Of all the damage that our skin endures, one of the most insidious is sunlight. As you're enjoying a bright sunny day, the molecules in your skin are absorbing sunlight and spawning free radicals. Even on cloudy days 80% of UV rays may still penetrate the cloud cover resulting in sunburned skin.
What are Free Radicals?
Free radicals are oxygen molecules that have lost their electron in interactions with other molecules. Even though free radicals are a natural byproduct, they're aiso extremely unstable and treacherous. In their search to "heal" themselves, free radicals steal electrons from other healthy molecules, creating even more free radicals and damaging healthy cells. To make things even worse, free radicals are also unleashed by external factors in today's environmental including cigarette smoke, and air pollution. This cell disorganization can result in serious skin problems and premature aging evidenced by wrinkles, loss of tone and elasticity, dryness and uneven skin tone. "It stands to reason that if free radicals damage skin cells, then antioxidants applied directly to the skin receptors should slow or even stop the process," says Nicholas Perricone, M.D., Yale School of Medicine and author of the bast-selling book, "Wrinkle Cure".
What are antioxidants?
Nature provides an abundance of antioxidants to protect the body against free radical damage. The most familiar Vitamins A and E are oil-based, while the unstable Vitamin C is water based. The various teas are also powerful antioxidants, especially green tea and its more potent sister, African Redbush Tea. Basically they act as free-radical scavengers, mopping up free radicals before they can interact with and mutate skin cells.
What is SPF (sun protection factor)?
SPF is determined in the U.S. by a guideline accepted by sunscreen manufacturers and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). This number has to do with the length of time a product protects the skin from the damage caused by ultraviolet rays, compared to how long it would take without the product. For maximum effectiveness, skincare specialists recommend applying sunscreen liberally and frequently, especially if exposed to water, perspiration, clothing or otherwise removed. The FDA recommends using a sunscreen with an SPF higher than 15 that insures broadband protection against UVA and UVB rays and contains an antioxidant. An SPF of 15 blocks out 93% of harmful rays - an SPF of 25 about 96%. In reality, the "healthy" look of tanned skin is actually the look of sun-damaged skin.
What are UVA and UVB Rays?
Ultraviolet radiation (UVR) traveling from the sun reaches the Earth in 3 major types - UVA, UVB and UVC - differentiated by their wavelengths. Since our ozone layer filters out UVC rays, we only need protection from UVA and UVB. UVA (longer-wave radiation) constitutes 90-95% of the ultraviolet light and penetrates the skin more deeply causing photo-aging such as wrinkling, leathering, connective-tissue damage and tanning, but it is less likely to cause immediate sunburns. UVB (short-wave radiation) reddens and burns the skin and also contributes to tanning. UVB may also worsen the effects of any UVA rays that have not besn filtered by the ozone layer.
When sunscreen products contain ingredients that block both UVA and UVB rays, the product is labeled "broad-band", or "broad-spectrum" coverage.
What ingredients in Collagen Solar Spray SPF 25 are effective against UVA and UVB?
This combination broad-spectrum sunscreen and moisturizer product contains three highly effective sunscreen ingredients; Octylmethoxy cinnamate, Benzophenone 3, and Octyl Salicylate.
• Octylmethoxy cinnamate has largely replaced the undesirable PABA derivates found in former sunscreen products. Because is the most potent UVB absorber, it is therefore the most frequently used ingredient.
• Benzophenone 3 absorbs and dissipates both UVA and UVB rays and has been approved by the FDA for use as an effective sunscreen.
• Octyl Salicylate is a UVA absorber and helps skin fight off the more damaging penatration of the UVA rays of the sun, which are more likely to do deeper damage to the epidermis.
What is Collagen?
Collagen, the most abundant protein in our body, is the main structural component of the dermis (the lower layer of the skin.) It gives skin youthful suppleness, tautness, and firmness, and helps hold vital moisture in the dermis. Collagen molecules "slide" over one another, making skin soft and resilient. However, when they have been damaged by free radical attacks, they become stiff and inflexible making the skin look "old."
Natural collagen (mammal, plant or other natural sources) is added to many cosmetic and skingcare products, for added moisturizing effects. Mammal collagen is, by nature, more similar and therefore more effective in replacing our skin's own collagen. However, because of the weight of the collagen molecule, it cannot penetrate into the lower layers of the skin and thus its benefits are limited to the skin's surface.
How is Swiss Collagen Fluid different from other topical collagens?
It is created from a state-of-the-art patented process (held U.S. and Swiss patents) that actually lowers the molecular weight of the collagen, allowing this concentrated collagen to penetrate deeper into the skin and act as a much more efficient moisturizing agent. Clinical studies (available on request) have confirmed that this formulation improved moisture retention, increased elasticity and firmer skin tone resulting in the minimizing of lines and wrinkles.
Summary:
Used daily, the Collagen Solar Spray SPF 25 is an effective skin treatment for the face and body; when used on the face in conjunction with the Swiss Collagen Fluid, dramatic improvements in skin texture, tone, moisture content, and softness are apparent within days. Continued use will produce more elastic, vibrant, healthy skin without severe medical treatments or procedures.
